Category Archives: The Inn On First

The Inn On First, your favorite romantic Bed and Breakfast Inn in Napa, was happy to be a part of DoNapa.com’s efforts to showcase culinary talent in the City of Napa. As part of their chef’s series they asked to film Chef Jim Gunther prepare one of his 120 breakfast creations, the Corndog Omelet.

I never understood why people grieved so deeply for their pets until I had to let go of one this week. Here at The Inn On First we have had the privilege of sharing our 3 furry friends, Oscar de la Renta, Hugo Boss, and Calvin Klein, with all of our guests. Oscar, the oldest, came into our lives when he was six years old. A “champion” we were told, but once we got him home he didn’t know any commands: sit, down, come. He would just stare at you. So we called the breeder and asked her about his champion status. “Oh,” she said, “he is a champion for his looks, not for obedience.” Great, a pretty boy.

Eight years later he did come to understand “sit” but only if a treat was in hand, and generally would answer to “come” when breakfast or dinner was ready, and he never really took to “down” no matter how many treats were in hand. A pretty boy he remained.

To all of our guests who visited here: if you ever held one of our dogs in your lap like a baby, on his back, belly up, and rubbed his tummy- that was Oscar. If you stopped rubbing he gave you that piteous stare, until the hand moved over the belly once more. He favored ladies over gentlemen, and often would just curl up on a female guest’s lap and rest his head on her breast. Even to the point where he was unwilling to come back with us into the house. We’d practically have to pry him off her lap. If you were lucky, before he left your lap, he’d give you kisses to thank you for the attention. We called him Munchkin, Oscaruni, Lover Boy, and in the last year Little Old Man.

He had Cushing’s Disease, a form of cancer, that worked on his liver and his brain, slowing things down for him daily. The vet had told us: “No more than two days of not eating. That’s when you call me.” When Jamie went to an East Coast wedding last week and Oscar stopped eating during that week, I begged him to wait until Tuesday, when Jamie would return. Sure enough, he went back to eating until Monday. On Tuesday Jamie returned home and by Wednesday he was gone. Can’t thank him enough for holding on a few extra days for Jamie’s return. Can’t say enough how much we will miss him.

Thank you, to all of you, who ever made him feel welcome, comfortable, taking the time to say hello to him, and caring for him this past year through his aging process. Thanks, too, for all the love, support, and compassion given to us via messages and hugs here at the inn.

Oscar leaves behind his nephew, Calvin, who has many of his pretty boy looks (black/white), but none of that pretty boy charm. Oh, you all know Calvin, our seven year old, the one who wants to announce to the world that there are people in the yard. Yes, the one we tell you to ignore and keep walking as he will immediately stop talking. And don’t forget Hugo, who turned ten today, who loves to chase the tennis ball, and knows if you’ve been here before when he makes this low sounding funny begging sound in his effort to see you and reconnect with you once more. He is distinctive in his single color (black) and his friendly demeanor. Our Welcoming Ambassador for all guests, both new and old alike. Even amid our sadness at Oscar’s loss, we are happy knowing that it is still a dog’s life here at The Inn On First where you can enjoy the company of our little family of furry friends.

I know. We’ve read about it for years: breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day. So here at The Inn On First, a luxury Napa bed and breakfast inn, we take it seriously. Today we have over 120 recipes that we utilize over the course of one year. We keep track of when you visit, what you eat for breakfast, and ensure you don’t get served the same dish again. It is our way of keeping you excited for what is about to be presented to you each morning, no matter how often you visit us.
It is also a way for Chef Jim Gunther not to get bored or complacent. His goal is to develop a minimum of 250 recipes before he retires. He’s hoping for another ten years to work at it and thinks he can achieve that goal. For Jim, it is a very Zen-like experience- you eat, you enjoy, you let it go. Something new is coming your way the next time. ”Knowing you get to eat this breakfast but once helps the guest to savor what is present to them today,” Jim stated. ”And in case you didn’t really enjoy that particular breakfast,” he added playfully, “you’ll never see it again.”
So what are some of the more recent creations that have come out of The Inn On First’s kitchen? Cheese Consomme with Roasted Potatoes and Poached Egg, Corndog omelets, Argentinian Arepas with Eggs in Chipotle Cream Sauce, Macaroni and Cheese, and S’mores French Toast are a few of the items you can expect to enjoy this year. The key to the inn’s success? Everything is made from scratch: from macaroni noodles, to the graham cracker bread Jim created for French Toast. Using fresh, organic, and locally grown ingredients, the focus is on cooking seasonally and creating recipes that have “comfort food” in mind.

Only a ten minute walk from Napa’s luxury Bed and Breakfast Inn, The Inn On First, is Carpe Diem Wine Bar and Restaurant; what we call a “small plates restaurant”, meaning you order to share. Where else can you be tempted by the daily taco of the day (filet mignon with pomegranate glaze, or shrimp pad thai, or pulled pork with a chipotle sauce, or lamb with pickled slaw- every bite delicious!) that changes all the time according to the chef’s inventiveness and seasonal ingredients.
I’m a fan of their pork steam buns, the short ribs, and their filet mignon with red rice cake. Yet by the time you get there these may be gone and replaced with some other yummy dish for you to choose. The fried olives are still a favorite of mine, and the truffled popcorn is downright addictive. You swear you will stop eating it, and yet your hands keep reaching. Jamie loved the brussell sprouts flatbread (you know I’m a hater so I don’t touch the stuff!), and the soft housemade burrata with olive oil drizzle and toast points is always fun.
This restaurant is fun, exciting, and always busy, so reservations are a must. With so many wines by the glass, too, it makes it really interesting to try new wines with these dishes. We’ve even had guests return two nights in a row just so they could try out other dishes and different wines. Stephanie and Scott, Owners, Hostess and Chef, make this must-eat stop in Napa. Oh, and seriously, if they ever take the Twix Bar off the dessert menu I might consider picketing the establishment.

Only a fifteen minute drive from The Inn On First, a romantic Napa Bed and Breakfast Inn, is Brix Restaurant. As my friend Donna Kaz was in town from NYC I wanted her to experience the beauty that the Brix Gardens enjoys while dining on incredible food.

As it was a bit later in the afternoon when we arrived (2 pm) we were practically alone on the patio for lunch. With spring blossoms everywhere in sight, as well as bud break beginning to show on the vines all around, the place could not have been more welcoming. We ordered the cold beet soup with a vegan base and a beautiful floral design of creme fraiche on top. It was a perfect accompaniment to a warm spring day. I ordered the asparagus salad, with a variety of white and green asparagus, and a light lemony dressing with petite brioche croutons. So far the meal was perfect.

Donna enjoyed the house salad with butter lettuce, english peas, and a garlic-yogurt dressing, although we were both sorely tempted by the tempura fried green beans and the steak tartare. The dungeness crab salad was tempting, but we tried to keep it light. We decided to split the lamb sandwich on housemade focaccia bread with the most lovely crisp french fries (okay, so maybe we tried to keep it partially light!). The bacon pizza looked delicious as we saw it delivered near us, as did the lamb bolognese.

Prices range from $8 to $18, for soups, appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pizzas, and main entrees. If you are here during the busier summer months I would suggest making a reservation and tell them you want to sit on the garden patio. If you ate my breakfast that morning you probably won’t be hungry again until 2 pm, which is a great time to sit and enjoy an afternoon break from wine tasting.

Only 5 minutes from The Inn On First, a romantic Napa Bed and Breakfast Inn, is the Crane Family Vineyards Estate. Sitting on a small hillside, overlooking parts of the city of Napa and the surrounding hillsides, you appreciate that this is a great place to live. In the back of this small property is a barn that serves as the winery, where the Cranes have been producing wine for over 20 years. These are the gems we long to find and so appreciate when they come our way.

Tom Chiarella, son of the founders of the winery (Crane is his mother’s maiden name), is now running the operation and after a tour of the property invites you to sit on the front porch and to taste their wines. An affable fellow who makes you feel comfortable and welcome immediately, he recreates for you a bit of the history of the land, its owners (his parents), and his years in Napa Valley. Over the course of conversation he pours you a glass of their estate Merlot, their Cabernet Sauvignon, Alison’s Cuvee (the winemaker’s play yard of wine with her Cabernet blend that changes every year), and the family Port. These are unpretentious wines presented by an unpretentious host, and it makes for a unique Napa Valley winery experience. They make few cases and don’t have many appointments to offer, but for the wine enthusiast looking to purchase wine Tom is always willing to share a part of his day with you. Prices range from $35 for the Port, and $50 to $80 for their other wines.

By the time your visit is over you will forget that you are so close to the city of Napa. You will be enthralled with the views, the ambience, the friendliness, and the wines. You will understand why we love Napa and its residents. Definitely a gem not to be missed.

Just a 15-minute walk from The Inn On First, a bed and breakfast in Napa, is the restaurant Angele. With friends in town we decided to return to the restaurant as it had been awhile since we enjoyed the cuisine. With a new chef in the kitchen I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I can now report we weren’t disappointed.

The marinated beet salad called to me and I was enthusiastic with every bite, especially with the addition of fromage blanc (I have to admit I have a weakness for cheese in all its forms). I split that with Jamie as our friends split the heirloom tomato sald with figs and prosciutto (gladly they shared and we loved it). The quail was my main course, as it sounded just too yummy to pass up with figs and pancetta-leek au jus. Just delicious. Jamie obviously enjoyed the braised rabbit with tomato confit which he reluctantly gave up a bite to me.

Thankfully our friend ordered the Duo de Bouef with a small filet and braised shortrib and the pork shoulder with quinoa. To my disappointment no one ordered the sea bass, and when it was delivered to the table across the way I was sorry we couldn’t squeeze in one more dish. Check out the full late summer menu on their website.

We still think Angele is one of the great romantic restaurants in Napa, right along the river, with great food, perfect ambience, and wonderful service. A great value for your money.

As we left for the day from The Inn On First, a luxury Napa Bed and Breakfast, we knew we were in for a real treat with our upcoming vineyard lunch. You enjoy as much wine as you want from each bottle they open for you to try. You eat to your heart’s content with incredible food from Ken Frank of La Toque. You look down upon the beauty of Napa Valley and think: “Oh my! I’m so lucky to be in Napa!” You are one of the few who have discovered and enjoyed the uniqueness of Napa Valley at its best.

Chateau Patel-VGS. Vineyard Lunch. It began with a drive up Mt. Veeder and down a long, dusty road to a gated vineyard. We met Tony, an affable man with a great smile, and he opened the gates and invited us to follow him. We traversed the rows of cabernet grapes, and when we spotted the pink flag on one of the stakes he proudly proclaimed: “Pick a row! Climb the mountain.” We did. It wasn’t a long climb, about 50 yards, through the vines ripe with fruit, purple and luscious, hanging, waiting for you to enjoy their bounty. I can see why tennis shoes or good hiking shoes are a must.

We found a dirt road on top and followed that up another 50 yards until we found the arbor, built specifically for this purpose. A table, white linen table cloth and napkins, with wine glasses, silverware, and plates awaiting the diner. As well as a gorgeous view of Napa Valley and the surrounding vineyards.

We started with a salmon spread and toast points served with their VGS Explorer Sauvignon Blanc ($25). A crisp wine with smells of lightly buttered toast and hints of lemon went well with the salmon. We followed this with a lovely green salad, blue cheese, candied pecans and a balsamic vinaigrette served with the VGS Chardonnay ($45), with notes of pear, green apple, and honeydew. A beautiful combination of food and wine. We also paired this and the next course with their cabernet-zinfandel blend called “Illegitimate” (2009) ($37). Fruity, with flavors of tart cherries and spice, very fruit forward and big fruit flavors.

Our main course was beef carpaccio, potato salad, and marinated vegetables served with the Illegitimate and their VGS Syrah (2009) ($75) with big fruit flavors, lightly spiced, and extremely delicious. Of course there was still the cheese course with cranberry nut bread, nuts, and three beautiful cheeses. All that could be paired with what we already had open. But then Tony opened a bottle of their late harvest zinfandel, called “Zinie” (2010) ($28). Low in residual sugar and not at all like many of the dessert wines we’ve had elsewhere, it was an incredible pairing with the cheese and bread.

I have to admit that it wasn’t just the food and the wine and the view that made our day special. Tony is an incredible host, funny, and willing to engage you in conversation about many things. He makes you feel comfortable, even about the fact that there are no restrooms: “Just find a nice spot around the bend in the road,” he encouraged as we each took turns finding our private hideaway. Rustic, yes, but with the views of vineyards and mountains, it didn’t matter. For $80/pp you would be hard pressed to enjoy such a wonderful experience at any restaurant in the valley with this caliber pairing of wines for anything less. And remember, you also get all those views on your way down the mountain! Oh, and don’t forget to ask him: “What does VGS stand for anyway?”

The Inn On First, a romantic Napa bed and breakfast inn, is happy to say that ballooning is absolutely worth the money. Jamie is afraid of heights, was still willing to go, and would do it all over again. Granted he won’t look over the edge of the basket and down to the ground, and yet admitted the views are stunning and incredible. On a clear day you can see all the way to San Francisco to the south and to Mt. St. Helena to the north. The vineyards dotted below you are just magnificent in the morning sun.

Our preferred vendor is Balloons Above The Valley. You can be picked up for a fee, or meet at a nearby location. They ride you out to the site (Yountvile was our starting point) and you ride for a full hour. It is so much fun! The largest basket holds 24 people, and even though it is tight quarters, you are not overcrowded. It is gentle on the way up and you just float, float, float- why, just like a balloon!

They follow up their ride with a lovely champagne brunch with scrambled eggs, potatoes, bagels, sausage, bacon, cold cuts, rolls, waffles, and so much more. Know that it requires an early morning rise (anywhere from 5:30 am to 7:00 am depending on the season) as the morning is the only opportunity they have to fly.

It looks like a small Parisian cafe with candlelight throughout the restaurant and outside the small windows can be seen the lights mirroring off the Napa River. It is a small, intimate restaurant that has an inviting, romantic appeal. We began with cocktails (it is only one of 3 or 4 restaurants in historic Napa that serve cocktails)and they brought a lovely white bean dip with crositini as an appetizer. A nice touch to get the meal started. I ordered the leek and potato soup and was not disappointed by the creamy and velvety texture, and I followed it up with the sweetbreads that came with a fragrant, rich sauce on the plate that coated every piece. On my first bite I was a little overwhelmed by the sauce that I scooped up with my first piece, and quickly learned to leave more of the sauce on the plate and let the sweetbreads with a light drizzle of sauce inform my palate. Afterward it left plenty of sauce on the plate to sop up with the bread they served with the meal. Jamie ordered the mixed green salad and followed it up with the sea bass. The fish was cooked perfectly and came with a light sauce and some veggies on the plate that gave it a nice balance.

Our friends ordered the french onion soup (always a treat at Angele with the stringy cheese pulling at the spoon as you lift that first slurp to your mouth), the winter salad with apples and pears and nuts drizzled with a light vinaigrette, the creme fraiche gnocchi (light and airy pillow puffs that melted in your mouth) and the blackened cod (a nice white fish served in a broth). We paired everything with a Saintsbury Pinot that was delightful (Pinot seems to be the one wine that will go with just about everything). My only regret was that we had to run out at the end to get to our show at Silo’s (night club) so we could not fully enjoy the ambience of sipping coffee over dessert at the end. Alas, another time.